Check stand for grocery stores and the like



June 10, 1952 W. L. GEORGE CHECK STAND FOR GROCERY STORES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 15, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 IN V EN TOR M/fia/n A 660/566 BY /7/; ar/M June 10, 1952 w, GEORGE 2,599,909

CHECK STAND FOR GROCERY STORES AND THE LIKE Filed SGPG- 15, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 54L Z7 7 l6 I I i 53 1w 1 j V l/ A I @z 4 25 51 Z) 25 ii 2/ pi f/af- {J7 1 Z2 1 I Q IN V EN TOR.

XIX/flaw A. 660/" e Patented June 10, 1952 CHECK STAND FOR GRlOCERQZ'STORE S AND THE LIKE WilliamL. GeorgenGrand R-apid s,,Mich.,- assignor to. Will L. George. Corporatium, Grand Rapids. Mich a. corporation of Michigan" I Applicationseptember 15, 1947, sem1No-.:174.o2o

7 Claims. (01. 186-1) This. invention relates toimprovements in checkstandior. grocery stores and the like.

The principal obj ects of this inventionare:

Eirst,.to provide a-stand for checking. out theitems-ofiacustomers purchase in a grocery, store or thelike which will. speed up theoperationof checking eachitem and reduce the possibility of error inzmissingitems or. checking a single item twice..

Second, toprovidea checking stand for grocery stores and the likewhich will relieve the operator. oi. the stand. of. unnecessary, motions in arrangingandldisposing of the. items checked.

Third; to provide a checking standarranged to support a cash register or other recording machine in a position where the operator may view both the register and the items to .be checked without turning her'hea'dor body.

Fourth, to' provide a checking stand for grocery stores and the'like'which' eliminates the tendency of customersto move items of a purchase, either illadvisedly or'maliciously; and thus confuse the operator in the process of checking the items.

Fifth, to'provide a checking stand which will successively place theseveral items of a large purchase' in'a convenient position Where they may be. viewed} recorded and transferred by the checker:

170 p ov de a chec i stand for groceries and the like ih' which the operators motions in moving the articles to be checked conform to the natural swinging motion of" the operators arm a'szdistinguished from a straightline movement 7 trol. mechanism.

Fig. 2.is:a.perspective.view of my check stand iromlthe operator's side of the stand.

Fig..3,is a transversecross sectional view of my checkstand. along the line 3-3. in. Fig. 2 and illustratesthe moving partsthereof Fig.4. is a. perspective. view of. a modified form of my check stand.

My check. stand is designed primarily for. use in grocery stores of the self-service type known as Super-Markets where the customer collects the.

2 v Y itemsdesired ina. basket. or cartandlplaces them on a standto. be. checked before the cust'omeri leaves the store. Checking stands of this. type are. universally, provided with a recording, cash; register on which the pricesof the sveralitinsf of the customers purchase are recorded and'th'ej total price obtained. .In the'pastthese checking stands have takenthe formof a straight counter upon which they customer placed her purchases;

and a cash register placed'behind and parallel to; the counter" and operated by an employee of the? store known as a checker. v

In checking out large purchases during rush hours customers tend to move-individual items of their purchase on thecounter, either in a mis guided; attempt toaid the'checker or purposely" to confuse'the checker and preventthecharging of one or more'items. These older'stands also require the checker to turn'her. eyes andbody at least 90' degrees from the'cash register to select} identify, and move each item of the purChasegtdward the'end'of' the checking stand and" back to the cash register to recordthe item.

My present check'stand provides a revolving turn-table upon". which the customer placeszthef several'items of the purchase. The turn-table:-rd--. tates under" the control. of" the checker and successively p'laces'the items of the purchase. against J a stop: extending radially of 'the turn-tableeand; adjacenti-to the: side of the cash. register which. is 'supportedlover one: quadrant of the. turntable. The". checker; who stands facingthecash register;-

merely has to? glance; down and" slightly to; one? side-.to View each successive item as it.is carried. against thetstopaandback to the: cash registerstd recordrthe item; The discharge ende-of theicheck; stand. to which; the? itemscf the purchase are; moved: after. being: recorded onv the cash-register is disposed generally tangentially with respectto? the turn table andextends preferably along: an; arc conforming generally tot-he natural-swing; of the checkersarmvas she. stands facing theS-cashi. register: andthe-stoprportion of. the stand. 'llhechecker; mayv thus-- grasp each item as it.reaches-. the stopandswing her; arm in a natural swinging; motion to thevrear' todisposeof each. itemasitis. checked. A- shelfor stand is provided at-thesextreme. end ofthedischarge portion of. the: stand. forluse. insacking the itemsof the purchase;

I have foun'd'that a-stand of this character ac-- celeratesi the-speed withwhich a checker may tabulate and move theitems of a large purchase; principally because each item is brought mto-a.-. convenient position .for recording and because the? checker neednot turntaroundto see thepositiom .in which she places the items after checking them. I have also found that the tendency of the purchasing public to attempt to move items once they have been placed on the check stand is entirely eliminated, thus a great deal of inaccuracy and loss to the store is eliminated.

Referring to the examples of my 'check stand illustrated in the drawings, attention is first in-' vited to Figs. 1 to 3. My preferred stand con sists of a base I having a semi-circular front portion 2 merging with an arcuate rear' portion 3 which extends generally tangentially from 'th e'= j outer side of the semi-circular portion 2. Suit able side panels 4 extend upwardly"fro'm"'the base'to form supports for the 'dischargei'counter 5 and turn-table 6.

Suitable rails are prefer ably provided on the edges or the discharge" counter as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Shelving may be provided as at 1 in Fig. 2 forstorin'g" a r; bag underne th h vd a c e ands-Fa in standrisprovided t arthe e of 'thedischarge' counten: A register-stand 9 is' rovided. against the innerfsi'de of the semi-cincular base 2 iand'occupies the quadrant of the,

turn-table between the discharge counter 5, and thseini cir'c'iilarbasei.

ri'rh structu e for mounting the turn-tablet is 'in refparti'eularly illustrated 'i'n'Fig. 3, which shows {the outer panel-4' of the check stand and. i the gin'neripanel ll] of theregister stand as form;-

ing supports fora lower. shelf ll.v 'An upper shelf. I2 ;is supported bythe panels '4 .and'lfi near ftlie p e'rj-edge, of the panels. Kcenter I EXQIzQWQQfiNPWWQY th an aperture the upper shelf I2. The post 13 provided with cql ao 1119:: which r t a h u b a n T ei ru t b ari s 5 i u or s a r d l. bearing .16 mounted in the 7 center of; a sub-table m mber l1.;

'The;sub-table member;l1 is secured to and supports the turn-table 6 and is provided with gear teeth l8 around the periphery thereof. The

teeth 18 mesh with the teeth on a driving pinion rolls 2B angularly disposed around the under side of the turn-table 6. andserving to-freely support the 'turn-table' as it rotates Suitable self-centering mounts (not illustrated) for the rolls '26 are provided on the brackets'25 so that the' rolls will aline themselves to have free rolling' contactwiththe turn-table 6.'

The -post l3 extends upwardly through the subtable I1 and turn-table 6 and isprovided on its upper end 'with'an'inverted outwardly flanged cup member 21. The flange on the cup member 21 is'arranged to support" the forward corner of a register' support panel 23. The outer edge of there'gister' panel 28 is suported upon the upper edge of the register stand panel I0 and the rear cornerof the register panel is supported on the front edge of the discharge counter- 5 so that th tu'rn-t'able 6 m'ay"rotatefre'ely underneath the cashregister su port panel. The inner side edge of thecash register panel is recessed as at 29 to lie generally along a radius of the turn table 6 to receive and stop the items of a pur- 4 chase as the turn-table rotates in a counterclockwise direction.

The cash register support panel 28 is provided with retaining walls 30 as desired for retaining a cash register 3| thereon. The side walls 4 on the check stand are provided withbrackets 32 (seevFig; 3') which support/a vertical rail 33 around the side of the turn-table 6.' A' guard ring 34 is carried by the rail 33 and overlies the outer edge of the turntable to prevent the customers hand or items of purchase becoming wedgedbetwee'n th turn-table and the rail. The guard ring projects at one end partially over the-discharge counterwhere the counter adjoins the outer s'ide of the turntable.

"ln'tl'ie'modifid' form of checking stand illustra-tedin-Fig;-4, the;base 2A is semi-circular as in the preferred form of stand, but the discharge end 3A of the base extends in a straight line from the semi-circular base 2A. The side panels 4 conform to the shape of the base-1A and and support astraight jjdi'scharge nel 5A" and the turn-table 6 in the same rnarmerth'e nref erred form of my checksta-n'd 1 The 'cashre'gis ter supp ortpanei 28A- is snmlarg o thesupport panel 28 in the preferre -romp theinvent" n and s i dfir e are.ryp eznr r. cup 21 in that form ofthe invention." The i-in'gf 30: 34A is v supported uponbrackets 32A and serves the" same purpose as the guard ring-"34in he preferred former the-irrventio'n,

It ul h resy,ana iadeparts lar details of construction of the base; counter and cashmegister stand are relativ ly mma ri so long as the turntablej'ififwillf'rotate'to move'j the items" of "a .pur'c hasef against the 'stop '29., Similarly, the particular construction} f the motor 2: and driving'g'ears l8, leandzt'i's immaterial, since the turn-table may'be rroved continually, intermittentlyfo nujall'y as'. ,d-Q sired, dependingv upon. thelamount ,of business h n The important features of my check stand are h uma l wh qh-b in s ehit m lid-P1 chase into convenient position, alongside of the, h re t p c e i ndt e cu ved. sh pe of the discharge counter which permits .jthe. checker to moveeach item. totherear. with a natural, swinging motion of her .arm and without turning to see where the item placed. .The; two features. are mutually cooperative, and .I: prefer to combine. the two, but either may I be used alone with highly desirable'resul'ts. A

I have thus described two highly-practical commercial embodiments of mychecking stand so that others may reproduce the same Without further description. I I 4 Having thus described my invention what; claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: 'j

1. A checking stand forgrocerystores and the like comprising a front portion havingupper and lower shelves, a vertical post secured. to said lower shelf and extending upwardlythrough said upper shelf; a shoulder onsaid post, athrust bearing positioned againstsaid shoulder, a turntable having a center bearing rotatably'mounte'd on said post and against saidthrustfbearingrsaid' post extending upwardly =through"'sa id i'turntable, rollers supported on said upper s'helffla'nd angularly disposed around said turntable to sup port the outer portion of said turntable, gear teeth on the'under side of said turntable, a: motor supported on said lower shelf and having gears and a driving pinion engaged with said teeth to rotate said turntable, brackets secured around the upper edge of said front portion and supporting a rail around approximately one-half of said turntable, a register support stand connected to said front portion and positioned partially under one quadrant of said turntable, a register support panel disposed over said one quadrant of said turntable and supported at one corner upon the top of said post, one edge of said panel extending generally radially of said tumtable to said register support stand for support thereby, a second edge of said panel adjacent said first edge extending radially from said post across said turntable to form a stop over said turntable, a discharge counter having its outer edge extending generally tangentially from the periphery of said turntable and with its leading end extending between said stop and said rail, the top of said discharge counter forming a. support for the corner of said support panel at the outer end of the stop thereon, and a switch for regulating said motor located behind said discharge counter.

2. A checking stand for grocery stores and the like comprising a front portion having a shelf, a vertical post secured to said shelf and extending upwardly thereabove, a turntable having a bearing rotatably mounted on said post, rollers supported on said front portion and angularly disposed around said turntable to support the outer portion of said turntable, a motor supported on said front portion and arranged to rotate said turntable, brackets secured around the upper edge of said front portion and supporting a rail around a portion of said turntable, a register support panel disposed over another portion of said turntable and supported at one corner on said post, one edge of said panel extending over said turntable from said post to said front portion for support thereby, another edge of said panel extending across said turntable from said post to form a stop, a discharge counter having its outer edge extending generally tangentially from the periphery of said turntable and with its leading end extending between said stop and said rail, said discharge counter forming a support for the corner of said support panel at the outer end of the stop theron, and a switch for regulating said motor located behind said discharge counter.

3. A checking stand for a grocery store and the like comprising a register support panel having a stop portion along one edge thereof, a turntable mounted to rotate partially underneath said panel whereby articles placed on said turntable will be carried thereby against said stop portion, a discharge counter extending from said turntable adjacent to said support panel, the end of said discharge counter extending from said stop portion arcuately away therefrom for a substantial distance along the periphery of said turntable, said discharge counter extending longitudinally from said end with its inner edge concavely arcuate with respect to said support panel, a guard ring around the exposed edge of said turntable and extending inwardly over the outer edge of said discharge counter to direct items on said table toward said stop portion, a motor for rotating said turntable, and means for control- 1 6 ling said motor located behind said discharge counter for operation by the operator of said stand.

4. A checking stand for grocery stores and the like comprising a base having a semi-circular portion and a discharge portion extending arcuately from one quadrant thereof, a turntable rotatably moimted on the semi-circular portion of said base, an arcuate discharge counter supported on said discharge portion and extending in flush relationship from said turntable, a register support panel supported at one corner above the center of said turntable and at an adjacent corner by the edge of said discharge counter whereby said turntable will rotate freely underneath said support panel, the edge of said panel between said corners being recessed to form a stop along said turntable, a motor for rotating said turntable toward said stop, and a switch for regulating said motor located behind said counter.

5. A checking stand for self-service stores comprising a base, a turntable rotatably mounted above part of said base, a discharge counter supported above the remainder of said base and extending as a continuation from a portion of the periphery of said turntable, a register support panel supported above a quadrant of said turntable adjacent to said counter whereby said tumtable will rotate freely in closely spaced relation underneath said support panel, a motor for rotating said turntable, and a switch for regulating said motor.

6. An apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable receiving table, a stationary guard rail for a substantial portion of the rim of said receiving table, a discharge counter disposed in the plane of said receiving table and having a portion thereof conformed to a segment of the table so that articles may be slid from the receiving table to the discharge counter, means forming a stop for articles on the receiving table and a register support disposed above the plane of said receiving table at the side of said-stop, and means for rotating said receiving table.

7. A checking stand for self service stores comprising, an item receiving counter of generally circular outline mounted to rotate in the plane of its surface, a register support positioned in closely spaced relation over a sector of said receiving counter and havin a side edge extending generally radially of said receiving counter to the periphery thereof to form an article stop for articles rotated thereagainst by said receiving counter, and a discharge counter extending as a generally co-planar extension of said receiving counter from another sector of said receiving counter adjacent said stop.

WILLIAM L. GEORGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 756,298 'I'ench Apr. 5, 1904 1,090,713 I-Iildenbrand Mar. 17, 1914 1,664,055 Wilcox Mar. 27, 1928 2,268,897 Price Jan. 6, 1942 2,305,604 Campbell Dec. 22, 1942 2,317,438 Bradley Apr. 27, 1943 

